McDonald's customers in Bengal in no mood to miss their burgers

Kolkata, Aug 21 (IANS) Somsubhra Ghosh, a class 9 student in a missionary school, is dejected and disappointed. The teenager realises that during his next trip to Kolkata from hometown Kharagpur, he may no more get to taste the yummy burgers from McDonald’s.

For the boy, one of his best experiences in Kolkata, about 100 kms from Kharagpur, has been the visit to the outlet of the food giant, whose 169 outlets in northern and eastern India are headed for a shutdown after a fortnight.

The US firm earlier in the day announced termination of the franchisee agreement between its India arm McDonald’s India Private Ltd (MIPL) and Vikram Bakshi-headed Connaught Plaza Restaurants Ltd (CPRL), the latter so far enjoying the franchise right of McDonald’s outlets in northern and eastern India.

“No no, I am not liking it one bit. I can’t savour their burgers any more,” Ghosh told IANS over phone.

“The burgers were really heavenly and unmatched,” he added.

For Prashanta Chatterjee, a college student in south Kolkata, the absence of McDonald’s means loss of a cosy hangout joint.

“I regularly go to their outlets, with close friends. Besides the burgers, I enjoy their coffee a lot. But what is more important, is the time spent their discussing music, films, and other good things of life. It used to be sheer fun,” said Chatterjee.

On the other hand, middle-aged Shyamal Roy, an executive in a private firm, says he would “badly miss” the delicious breakfast.

“I have so many times visited their outlet in Bhowanipore (in South Kolkata) before 10.30 a.m. for the love of the hash browns, McEggs, sausage McMuffins. Well, I know, nothing in this world is permanent, but yes, to say the least, i will miss Mcdonald’s.”

However, Roy hoped that something positive would crystallise within the next fortnight, so that the outlets remain in business.

Suchetana Gupta, a housewife, was more concerned about the fate of the employees of the food chain.

“They work so diligently, they don’t lose a minute. And they are extremely courteous. I shudder to think what will happen to them if they lose their jobs. They surely have mouths to feed at home,” said the forty-something mother of two.